Anthropic Unveils Claude Science and Enters Drug Discovery Race
Anthropic launched Claude Science, a research workbench with 60-plus preconfigured scientific tools, and announced its own drug discovery program for neglected diseases, taking on OpenAI and DeepMind.
Key Takeaways
Anthropic launched Claude Science on June 30, a research workbench that integrates 60-plus preconfigured scientific tools including PubMed, Jupyter, R, and genomics and cheminformatics databases into one environment.
Anthropic also announced an in-house drug discovery program targeting rare and neglected diseases, using its own models to design candidates from screen to lead.
Launch customers include Novo Nordisk and the Allen Institute for AI, adding to an existing Bristol Myers Squibb collaboration that deployed Claude to over 30,000 employees in May.
Anthropic opened a research support scheme offering up to $30,000 in credits for as many as 50 external projects; applications close July 15 with awards announced by July 31.
The move puts Anthropic in direct competition with Google DeepMind (Isomorphic Labs) and OpenAI (partnered with Retro Biosciences), betting Claude Sonnet 5 and Claude Fable 5 can compress hit-to-lead drug development cycles.
Kaan Tınmaz
Anthropic on June 30 unveiled Claude Science, a research workbench for drug discovery, and disclosed that it is launching an internal drug-development program aimed at neglected diseases. The dual announcement, made at an event in San Francisco, plants Anthropic squarely on the same turf where Google DeepMind and OpenAI are already competing.
A workbench built on Claude
Claude Science layers on top of the existing Claude foundation models and pipes 60-plus preconfigured scientific resources — PubMed, Jupyter, R, genomics and cheminformatics databases — into a single environment. Researchers can pull literature, run analyses, generate figures and export scientific outputs without leaving the app. Novo Nordisk and the Allen Institute for AI are named as launch customers, alongside an existing collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb that rolled Claude to more than 30,000 BMS employees in May.
Anthropic goes direct on molecules
The bigger surprise was the in-house drug program. Anthropic said the effort will target rare and neglected diseases where private-sector economics are weakest, and that it will use its own models to design candidates from screen to lead. The company also opened a research support scheme offering up to $30,000 in credits for as many as 50 external projects, with applications closing July 15 and awards announced by July 31.
Racing OpenAI and DeepMind
The move puts Anthropic in a three-way race with rivals that have moved earlier: DeepMind spun out Isomorphic Labs, and OpenAI has partnered with Retro Biosciences on longevity work. Anthropic is betting Claude Sonnet 5 and the higher-end Claude Fable 5 can compress hit-to-lead cycles that today stretch across years and hundreds of millions of dollars. The wager also comes as the industry rebuilds its AI stack after Anthropic opened talks with Samsung on custom 2nm inference silicon and after the US briefly pulled Fable 5 offline over export controls.
Reporting based on coverage from CNBC, Pharmaceutical Technology and ZME Science.
Claude Science is Anthropic's research workbench for drug discovery, built on its Claude foundation models. It connects 60-plus preconfigured scientific resources such as PubMed, Jupyter, R, and genomics and cheminformatics databases, letting researchers pull literature, run analyses, generate figures, and export scientific outputs in a single environment.
What diseases will Anthropic's drug discovery program target?
Anthropic's internal drug-development program will focus on rare and neglected diseases where private-sector economics are weakest, using its own AI models to design drug candidates from screen to lead.
How can researchers apply for Anthropic's research credits?
Anthropic opened a research support scheme offering up to $30,000 in credits for as many as 50 external projects. Applications close July 15, and awards will be announced by July 31.
How does Anthropic's move compare to OpenAI and DeepMind?
Anthropic enters a three-way race with rivals that moved earlier: Google DeepMind spun out Isomorphic Labs, and OpenAI partnered with Retro Biosciences on longevity work. Anthropic is betting Claude Sonnet 5 and Claude Fable 5 can shorten hit-to-lead cycles that currently take years and hundreds of millions of dollars.
